D-Day: The Battle That Saved Europe *In-Person* *NEW*

Of all the battles of World War II none is better remembered than D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944. This place in popular memory is well deserved. D-Day was the largest and most complex operation of the war, and its effects were far reaching. The Allied victory in Normandy led directly to the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis and laid the foundations for a stable and prosperous postwar European order. In this course we will look at the immense scale of planning and preparations, the landing and the subsequent battle inland, and the long-term effects of the campaign. We will also examine many of the myths of D-Day and look at lesser known and neglected parts of the story, including the roles of the Canadian, Polish, and French forces, the German perspective, and the impact of the battle on the French people. Instructor: Allan Converse

Sections

Instructor

I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in New York City. I hold degrees in history from Vassar College, Northeastern University, and Brandeis University and I have taught in several Boston area colleges and universities, including Northeastern, Emerson, and Lesley. My book Churchill’s Armies at War was published by Oxford University Press. In my spare time I do artwork, act in independent films, and write mystery fiction.